Lytro announces cameras with manual controls, new colors

Lytro made a splash last year with the introduction of its “light field” camera, which uses a unique kind of technology that lets you change the focus of pictures on the computer after you’ve taken them.

The company announced Tuesday that it’s now adding four tools to the camera – shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, a neutral density filter and an auto-exposure lock – largely aimed at giving photographers more control when they shoot in different light levels.

The pink shade, technically known as Moxie Pink, is available through Target.com and the retailer’s smaller City Target stores. The green, or Seaglass, camera is available through the manufacturer’s Web site at Lytro.com. Both have 8 GB of memory and cost $399.

All new cameras will have the tools, and existing Lytro users can download a software update by connecting the devices to their computers.

The slim, handheld cameras sport a 1.61-inch screen and are around four inches long. They also come in 8GB blue and graphite models, as well as 8GB and 16 GB models in red. They are compatible with Windows and Macs.

The cameras were a hot-ticket item when they were released earlier this year, but have only caught on with a small portion of the camera market. The additions announced Tuesday make them a little more useful to the super-creative crowd, but the price is likely still a barrier for wide adoption.

Still, the camera is in its first generation, and the idea of being able to take “living” pictures is enticing to some. The tools released Wednesday may help the company sell its wares to a more serious set.